18 Traits Of An INFJ, The Rarest Personality Type In The World

INFJ refers to one of the sixteen Myers-Briggs personality types. It has become viral in the media over the past several years, as it's considered to be the rarest personality type, which makes it up less than 2% of the world’s population. INFJs are labeled as “The Advocates,” and have been described as mysterious, intuitive individuals with high EQ. Still, the "Advocate" as a whole is often misunderstood.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test was made in the 1940’s by mother and daughter, Isabel Myers and Katharine Briggs. It originally stems from the typological theories of the prominent psychoanalyst Carl Jung. The test assesses each individual in four categories: Sensing vs. Intuition, Extroversion vs. Introversion, Thinking vs. Feeling, and Judging vs. Perceiving. These criteria determine which category a person's personality most tilts toward. INFJs are those whose characters favor the sides of Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Judging.

Here are some of their most significant traits:

1) INFJs can be difficult to spot because they aren't prevalent in society and tend to be reserved people.

2) Although they're introverted, INFJs make fiercely loyal and empathetic friends, organized workers, and exceptional leaders for the causes they value most and for the greater good of the world.

3) INFJs often feel lonely and “different,” for no obvious reason. INFJs are not many, so they have trouble finding other people who see the world the way they do. Most "Advocates" have admitted feeling different from their friends since they were very young.

4) INFJs take an all-or-nothing approach to life. They're a curious mix of emotional and logical and don't like to waste their time on anything inauthentic. They are truly about quality over quantity, so they'll become disinterested in anybody or anything they perceive as being fraudulent, fake, or scheming.

5) INFJs exude warmness, and other people immediately feel comfortable in their presence. It isn't uncommon for a stranger to sit next to an INFJ and within seconds, disclose their most personal secrets, desires, and fears. In fact, this happens often to INFJs with seemingly no rhyme or reason. The particular personality type has a knack for making others feel at ease immediately. INFJs are great listeners and trusted confidants who like to speak in human terms and meet other people where they are.

6) INFJs are empathic, and they sometimes “just know” things. INFJs usually have a highly-accurate sense of intuition that they've been sharpening for their entire lives. Without understanding exactly why or how, INFJs see, within minutes of meeting someone, their real character. As a result, they become more forgiving of their friends who show unruly behavior as they can identify the real root of the behavior, such as insecurities or past trauma.

7) INFJs ultimately search for genuine truth and meaning. They don't care about extravagant gestures if there isn't a pure and sincere motive behind them. An INFJ’s calling in life is to find insight and understanding. As they grow, they can spot a lie or half-truth in a moment’s notice. If they believe someone to be a phony or a manipulator, they'll have no trouble writing them off.

8) INFJs are introverts, but many people mistake them for extroverts. As INFJs can be social chameleons, they have an innate ability to blend in any social event. The INFJ might be the life of the party but only for a night or two, as they quickly lose energy from others. An INFJ's close friends will know that they prefer bars over clubs and barbecues over balls. They can give a speech to thousands of people but cringe at the idea of mingling with the crowd afterward. They always need some time to recharge their batteries.

9) INFJs have intense convictions, sometimes to a fault. They have certain ideas about the world, and they need to foster change in society. These are deep-seated beliefs that they never abandon.

10) INFJs usually have a small circle of friends and also prefer to work alone. Although an INFJ might have hundreds of acquaintances, if they call you their “friend,” you can assume that they mean it for life. The "Advocates" can count their close friends on a set of fingers. An INFJ can be a great team player sometimes, but the idea of group projects and collaboration meetings usually scares them off at first.

11) INFJs can't stand small talk. This trait aligns with their need to pursue truth and originality. To an INFJ, small talk is exhausting and has no purpose as it's merely speaking without revealing any deeper layers of the people involved.

12) INFJs are usually high-achievers and people-pleasers. They plan every detail down to the minute and always deliver a glowing finished product. Still, they have troubles being criticized for their work, as they take every word to heart. This type is a unique mix of a dreamer and a doer, but they can easily become preys to extreme bouts of anxiety or depression centered on emotions of inadequacy or failure.

13) INFJs are often creative writers as they have a gift for using the language. Introverts as they are, INFJs prefer to spend time on their own and develop enriched inner-lives with several hobbies and skills. They have trouble conveying their emotions verbally, so they usually turn to pen and paper. It's no surprise that most successful writers are, in fact, INFJs.

14) INFJs make decisions based on their emotion and insight. An INFJ judges the world around them based on how they feel about it. They don't care about track records and performance history. On the contrary, they look for the heart of the matter and how a person or company will treat them personally.

15) INFJs love to reflect on deep thoughts about their goals in life and the world around them. They are deep thinkers. INFJs are old-souls and spend a lot of time reflecting on their purpose and the meaning of life and of everything that happens. They are usually readers, researchers and intellectuals who genuinely enjoy learning.

16) INFJs are visionaries who like to see the big picture. They always operate about ten steps ahead. They're skilled planners and focus their sights on the final goal and on what is needed to propel them there. Still, while INFJs are off in dreamland about the future, they can sometimes forget to be present in what is happening now. Therefore, they do well with other more grounded types who remind them to live in the moment.

17) INFJs are “fixers”. They gravitate towards people who need help. An "Advocate" is a good fixer-upper. With his/her ability to see another person's true motives and intentions, he/she falls victim to the Broken Wing Theory: the idea that they can rescue those who have a “broken wing”. That can be rewarding for ae hopeful INFJ, but it can also be frustrating when boundaries are overstepped.

18) INFJs search for lifelong relationships. They usually find themselves with intuitive extroverts, like the ENTPs, ENFPs, and ENFJs. These types can connect with the INFJ on the deeper plane of intuition, but will also get the INFJ out of their heads and out clubbing on a Saturday night.